“As a mother and an educator working in Huntsville City Schools, I understand the critical need for experienced and qualified leadership in education. I’ve felt the pulse of education policy, and have witnessed its impact firsthand. I’ve seen the challenges our students, parents, and teachers face every day. This isn’t just my political platform. It’s my livelihood, it’s my family, and it’s the future of the community that I call home.”
Fostering Community. Cultivating Growth.
Transparency and Accountability
Unlocking the full potential of our students can only be achieved by embracing a culture of open communication, transparency, and accountability. Keeping parents informed about what happens in our school system empowers them to make thoughtful decisions about their child's education and future. Timely updates on administrative changes, goals, student disciplinary data, and test scores ensure the effective allocation of resources, allowing us to prioritize schools with lower scores and higher disciplinary referrals. By utilizing relevant data and keeping our community stakeholders in the know, we can work together to develop comprehensive plans that enhance student success both inside and outside the classroom. As your next school board member, that’s exactly what I plan to do when making policy-related decisions and meeting with administrators.
Fostering Community and Encouraging Collaboration
The nurture and education of our students is a collaborative effort and a shared responsibility between parents, the school system, and our community. When school board initiatives are supported by our stakeholders, it helps broaden our reach and deepen our impact. For this reason, we must create engagement opportunities where community members, especially parents with school-aged children, can share ideas and provide valuable feedback that can be incorporated into our leadership plans. As your school board member, I’ll work to leverage effective communication and foster collaboration so we can work together to ensure every child in our school system has the support they need to grow and thrive.
Inclusivity and Accessibility
As an educator working in a school system as diverse as ours, accessibility is a top priority of mine. Every child, regardless of language or ability status, deserves the opportunity to learn and grow. That means ensuring that parents and families who are not native English speakers have access to interpreters and documentation written in their native language to help bridge the communication gap. It also means ensuring that students with disabilities or additional support needs aren’t held back by barriers that impede their learning journey. As your next school board member, I promise to be an advocate for accessibility so that we can develop an ecosystem that embraces diversity, fosters equity, and empowers every student to reach the fullness of their potential.
Teacher Retention and Support
Stress levels experienced by educators are at an all-time high due to demanding work environments and insufficient support. As a result, many teachers are opting to leave the profession altogether, leading to a critical shortage of qualified educators nationwide. Without ample time to effectively plan lessons, contact parents, and address behavioral issues, teachers are unable to provide the high-quality education our children deserve. As your next school board member, I’ll advocate for support that prioritizes well-being so our educators can focus on their primary mission: educating our students. Additionally, I will support initiatives to involve parents and families; research shows this improvement of parent-teacher relationships improves overall student behavior and academic growth.
Fostering Community. Cultivating Growth.
Living Wages for School Faculty
Investing in our students' well-being starts with ensuring that our teachers, administrators, and support staff are not overburdened by financial concerns. Without a stable foundation, it becomes difficult for educators to bring their best selves to the classroom. Efficiently run schools require a dedicated support staff, and their compensation should reflect the value they bring to the educational experience. From teachers and cafeteria workers to bus drivers and special needs aids, each member of our community plays a crucial role in creating a positive schooling environment. Ensuring that everyone is paid a fair living wage is the first step in supporting those who shape our children's future. By valuing our staff, we empower them to focus on what truly matters: nurturing the minds of our students and cultivating a brighter tomorrow for all.
Capital Plan
The implementation of a new Capital Plan is an exciting time, as our board leaders get together to bring forth new changes that will benefit our students and our schools over the next 10 years. As with any successful initiative, it takes a continuous evaluation and reevaluation as we learn from the ongoing process of implementation. Serving our schools means considering the valuable feedback of the parents, students, and faculty that these policies impact. With the Consent Order still in effect, it's also important that each board member carefully advocate for their constituents while also keeping in mind the needs of the district and the requirements coming from the U.S. Department of Justice. As your next School Board member, I’ll take an active approach to minimizing issues by considering and incorporating real-time feedback as plans are executed and finalized.
Claudia Harris is a visionary leader and dedicated educator, with an unwavering commitment to effecting positive change. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Claudia's family relocated to Alabama when she was 12 years old. The values given to her by her family, along with the embrace of the vibrant and diverse community she was brought up in, instilled within her a passion for advocacy and a strong sense of communal purpose.
Claudia attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Education and a minor in Language and Culture. While at UAH, she founded the Hispanic Student Organization, served as an elected Student Government Representative, and was a published journalist for the Charger Times. In 2017, Harris graduated magna cum laude from the University of Salamanca in Spain, completing a Spanish Literature thesis, and obtaining a master's degree in Teaching Spanish for Speakers of Other Languages.
Claudia has taught in the Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County school districts. She has sponsored numerous organizations, spearheading school clubs like the Endeavor National Elementary Honor Society, the Running Club, the Spanish Enrichment Program, the "Real World Skills" Club, the PBIS Committee, and the Hispanic Heritage Month Program. She also led a United Way school-wide fundraiser at Horizon Elementary, raising over $5,000 for local community organizations.
Beyond education, Claudia's passion for community involvement shines through her work with various nonprofit organizations, having served as an event planner for AshaKiran, the interim president for Huntsville Helping Hands, and the Board Treasurer and President for the United Women of Color. Harris has also participated in a number of community initiatives, serving as a liaison for the Citizens Coalition for Justice Reform, and a District 3 Representative for the Alabama Education Association, advocating for workers rights.
Harris is a mother and a wife, with two beautiful children who inspire her every day to continue working to build a future that they can thrive in. Driven by her desire to make a positive impact on her community, Claudia is now running for the position of District 1 School Board Member for Huntsville City Schools. With her experience as an educator and a community leader, Claudia strives to use her platform to advocate for the students, teachers, and families living in District 1.
